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Live Longer: The Benefits of Red Wine

There is nothing better than that glass of red while in the kitchen, or a crisp white on a warm summer day. But while we sip on our favourite glass of Merlot, do we actually know what health benefits the wine has to you?

Well, I am here to let you know to get your glass ready, because according to studies, a glass of red wine per night has various health benefits. I am going to put the disclaimer right in here though, that we do mean a glass of wine a night, and any more does have quite the opposite effect. So if you have had a bit of a raucous night, we suggest balancing it out with a few alcohol-free days, no matter how terrible that sounds.

The key to red wine being beneficial to your life is the level of antioxidants and polyphenols found in it. These are similar that are found in red berries and walnuts. Research has proven that red wine have higher levels antioxidants and the darker the wine, the higher the level of antioxidant, with Cabernet Sauvignon displaying the highest levels.

Lower Cholesterol and Protect your Heart

For this to be further explained, we are going to have to delve into a little bit of the science. Resveratrol, is a type of molecule called a polyphenol and these are thought to have an active role in limiting the start and progression of atherosclerosis. For the non- PHD-holding people out there, atherosclerosis is the disease of the arteries which is created by excess fatty materials deposited on the walls, and the main cause of heart attacks and strokes.

Studies on mice, rabbits and pigs have shown that Resveratrol assists with the increase of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which is the good type of cholesterol and lowers the Low-Density Lipoprotein (yes, the bad) by removing the amounts of fat build up in plaque formation. Furthermore, phenolic substances that contain antioxidant properties assist in the reduction of plaque formation. The plaque which is deposited on the artery walls cause them to stiffen and the blood pressure rise, and this can be further reduced by Resveratrol that keeps blood vessels flexible.

For a bit more information on the studies on cholesterol, visit this site.

Flu and Cancer Buster

Studies in the last decade have shown that moderate drinkers are at less risk to get prostrate, lung and colon cancers. However, heavy drinkers are at a far higher risk, so keep monitoring your intake. It is thought that antioxidants assist in the fighting of infection and protect cells against the free radicals that play a role in cancer and other fatal diseases.

Anti-Ageing and Fat Fighting

I have just seen all of the ladies perk up a bit. Yes, ladies according to studies, grapes contain ellagic acids that delay the growth of fat cells and slow the development of new ones. It’s also said that red wine burns calories for up to 90 minutes after drinking. So, in essence, a glass now and then is the perfect solution to keep that waist slim and trim. There are also various sources that state that the antioxidants mop up free radicals that associated with ageing and age related diseases.

Once again, we look at Resveratrol which assists in the breakup of amyloid-beta protein. The buildup of this protein is associated with Alzheimers disease and in a recent, 2015 study, a Resveratrol pill was actually developed to prevent this protein accumulation.

Lower Stress and Better Sleep

How many times a day do you look at your watch and wish for wine-o-clock? If you are anything like me, it’s really just after I have just finished my first cup of coffee. Wine contains melatonin which reduces stress and assists with sleep.

Brain Booster

Grab a book of cross-word puzzles with your next glass of wine as the studies related to the Alzheimer disease study shows that your memory and brain functioning can be sharpened, especially with the reduction of beta-amyloid protein build-up

There’s also a source that states that a glass of red wine improves your dancing skills, but we think that is a bit questionable, so don’t quote us on that.